HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE IN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS

THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT A HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION OF HUMAN-ROBOT INTERFACES IN INDUSTRY, TO DESCRIBE COMPREHENSIVELY AND GENERICALLY WHAT ROBOT OPERATORS AND MAINTAINERS DO ON THE FACTORY FLOOR, AND THROUGH ANALYSIS TO UNCOVER PROBLEMS IN INTERFACE DESIGN INVOLVING BOTH PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE. INFORMATION WILL BE SOUGHT THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE, DOCUMENTATION, VISITS, AND INTERVIEWS FROM AS MANY AS EIGHTEEN AMERICAN AND TWO JAPANESE ROBOT MANUFACTURERS. IF THE PHASE I INQUIRY DEMONSTRATES THAT MORE HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING IS NEEDED IN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS, A PHASE II WILL BE PROPOSED TO VERIFY PROBLEMS EMPIRICALLY IN ROBOT USER PLANTS AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO BE INCORPORATED IN A HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING GUIDE FOR ROBOTICS.